[Note: It's been over 5 months since I've written a blog post and my blogging chops are rustier than an old junkyard Studebaker.  still, I'm putting this out because it's time.]

All right, I’m going to just cut to the chase and tell you . . .

Where the Hell I’ve Been for the Last 5 Months

I spent 3 months travelling around the world in a balloon while running an online business for 6 hours per week from a laptop (with a satellite internet connection).

I then spent the next two months travelling around China meeting with world leaders, running a consulting company from my iPhone, and writing a book (also on my iPhone) in Norwegian.

I am SO kidding.  I’m not that guy.

The last 5 months have involved very little in the way of lifestyle design stunts.

Although I did go on a solo backpacking trip to the North Shore of lake superior . . .

This is where I camped . . .

But the real story about where I’ve been is that — for the last 5 months — I’ve been busting my ass working on something I care very deeply about.

My Approach to Product Creation

There are a lot of approaches to product creation.  Many of them work well.

Some people throw together a 47-page ebook every month on one topic or another . . .

. . . my approach is to work on ONE main product for years (and hopefully decades) refining it with each evolution and incarnation.

And of course, responding to feedback, obsessing about user experience, and providing as much value as humanly possible.

That’s because . . .

Project Mojave is My Purpose

This is my purpose.

Fuck the Social Revolution

[newsletter]Most revolutions are created to manipulate others.

But true freedom exists inside you right now (with or without a revolution).  It’s always been there. And you don’t need a social movement, or a revolution, or twitter, or the blogosphere or ANYTHING except courage to claim the freedom that’s always existed inside you.

If you’re living your life to escape your work place, rebel, be unconventional, etc. then you’re living your life as a reaction (to your pain?) and totally missing the point.

Fuck the revolution.  You don’t need one.

You Are Your Only Captor

Escape implies a captor.  Militaristic revolution implies an enemy.  But on this front there is usually nothing to escape. No battle to be fought.  No world takeover necessary. No common enemy.

On this front, the best results usually come from looking deep within yourself, coming alive, and fearlessly doing what you’re compelled to do after you’ve seen the deeper reality of who you are.

Real freedom sprouts from an internal “victory” (over your fear).  A quiet victory.

A victory that — in all probability — no one will notice.  Except you.

You’ll notice it.

I’ve Recruited a Baby to Help Lighten Things Up

Below is Maverick, my new nephew.  He’s a precious kid who was born earlier this month, and I got to see him when I flew to California last weekend for my grandparents’ anniversary.

Man I love that guy.

Now that we’ve lightened things up, it’s time to get heavy again . . . (more…)